inspiration monday {elvie-encore-post #2}

i love using watercolor pencils, but one thing i noticed right away is the color of the pencil isn't always the exact color that goes onto the paper!  so here's a paint-chip system that i've been using for a while now.....they're super easy to make, and all you need is your paints, scraps of watercolor paper, your waterbrush or paintbrush and cup of water, a pencil, scissors, glue or double-sided tape, and some popsicle sticks.

first, draw a square for each of your colors onto your watercolor paper 

and paint each square using one color. 

 i like to put more color at the top and less at the bottom 

so i know how the color looks both as a dark and a light.

now, label each color.  
you can leave your swatches as they are 
and you'll have a great color reference......

but i like to cut mine out......

and mount them onto popsicle sticks using a dab of glue or double-sided tape.  
this way i can mix and match and see exactly 
what they look like right next to each other.  
it makes choosing your color palette really fun, 
and you'll be amazed at how many fabulous color combinations you discover!

plus, your entire collection will look so cute all tucked in a glass jar......

kind of like a rainbow-paint-chip-inspiration-bouquet smiling at you!

{you can use this technique for watercolor paints, acrylics, watercolor pencils, 

watercolor crayons, and any other color media you enjoy working in!}

***

{i'm currently on a little bloggy break......

this is an encore presentation of a post 

originally featured on april 18, 2011}